Friday Sermon: Prayer is our weapon and the means of our triumph

October 8th, 2010

Hudhur recited the following two verses at the start of the Friday Sermon today: ‘This is the Home of the Hereafter! We give it to those who desire not self-exaltation in the earth, nor corruption. And the end is for the righteous.’ (28:84). ‘And they rejected them wrongfully and arrogantly, while their souls were convinced of them. See then, how evil was the end of those who acted corruptly!’ (27:15) Explaining, Hudhur said good and evil, humility and haughtiness, peace, love and disorder, obedience and rebellion and many other traits can be seen in good and bad aspects in life. One part of these signifies connection with the Gracious God and the other half indicates falling in the lap of Satan. God commands what is good and Satan instigates evil. Rebellion is in the very nature of Satan as the Qur’an states: ‘… surely, Satan is a rebel against the Gracious God.’(19:45). Those who follow Satan definitely receive Divine chastisement. The aforementioned verses mention two kinds of people; those who shun evil and disorder and are the servants of the Gracious God and those who are arrogant and corrupt and are followers of Satan. It is God’s way that the latter have a bad ending.

Hudhur said there were many Pakistanis present in the congregation and many Pakistanis all over the world watch Hudhur’s Friday Sermon on MTA. He added that unfortunately ‘our country’, where the majority of the population is Muslim, is today being held at ransom by people who are far removed from what God commands. On the contrary, the practices becoming prevalent are the ones from which God forbids. A certain section of people have completely overcome the politicians and the authorities. As a result there is daily turmoil and disorder in the country. The entire system of the country has been imbibed in the tenor of unruly people. From the time of the creation of Pakistan till today, the Khulafa Ahmadiyyat have been alerting the public against this section of people because its aim has always been to take the country towards religious extremism. Due to their lack of knowledge and gullibility, the public has been deceived by this group and poverty does not allow them to think matters through. Whereas, to serve their ulterior motives, the politicians have given these jubbah-clad (long robe) religionists complete freedom or have made pacts with them assuming that they cannot succeed without them. Each political party imagines that it cannot survive without the jubbah-clad individuals. Knowingly, they have given unnecessary importance to the so-called caretakers of Islam and have thus created lawlessness in Pakistan which is getting worse by the day. The civil authorities are helpless, and so dire is the situation that the Rangers, once a considerable peace-keeping force as well as the army, have no significance compared to the terrorists in terms of modern weapons.

An Ahmadi feels great anxiety to see this state of affairs in a country that was attained by giving the sacrifice of thousands of lives. On an apparent level, in spite of their endeavours, Ahmadis cannot do anything to rid the country of this oppression. However, love of homeland demands of every Pakistani Ahmadi to pray for Pakistan. It is their obligation. No matter how much the countrymen or at least those who presume to be the most patriotic, lay the charge of disloyalty on Ahmadis and continue to persecute us, we have to fulfil the requisite of love of homeland and pray for the country. If anything can save Pakistan from the dangerous situation, it is the prayer of Ahmadi.

The world view on Pakistan is also getting severer and severer and the internal strife is making the country weaker. Without doubt, at the moment, Ahmadis are the most vulnerable and victimised citizens of Pakistan where all our rights are seized. But we have nothing to do with the politics or the government of the country. It is foolish of them to assume that just because we are an organised community we aspire to govern. We have no aspiration of any worldly governance. What we do aspire to is a sincere connection with our country and by virtue of this each Ahmadi wishes to see his or her country to have distinction in the world and it is for this reason that an Ahmadi prays, indeed should pray for his or her country.

Around the world, Ahmadis participate in politics. They belong to the governing parties as well as parties in the opposition and play their part respectively in the development of the country. They are interested in politics as citizens but the administrative system of the Community or Khilafat, has no interest in any governance or taking over any government anywhere. This way has been shown to us by the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him); our objective is not to attain any material governance; rather it is to attain spiritual kingdom. Whenever any government of the world has sought advice or sacrifice for the survival of the country, our Community has participated and continues to do so. In spite of being badly persecuted in Pakistan, individually as well as communally, Ahmadis get anxious when they see the country or the countrymen in trouble. Our anxiety is for the public and for the survival of the country, not for governmental influence. As much as our resources allow, we try and help the country out of trouble. This practice of ours is in accordance with the teaching of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and by following his blessed model. God has guided us to follow this blessed model as an obligation. Indeed, the blessed model of the benefactor of humanity and the mercy for mankind (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) entails forgetting one’s own problems and serving humanity, not for any reward, rather owing to sentiments of love and in accordance with ‘…the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred…’ (16:91). The virtuous are pained even when strangers or outsiders are troubled whereas these are our own, how can it be that we do not get anxious when they are in difficulty?

We have nothing to do with oppression and disorder, we propagate humility and love and are adherents of that Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who used to get anxious over remoteness of the world from God and who spent his nights overwhelmed by this grief. As God stated to him: ‘Haply thou wilt grieve thyself to death because they believe not’(26:4). We have sympathy for those who are associated with the ummah our master and for this reason we endeavour that they understand the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and accept the Mahdi and are saved from the calamities and chastisement of this world as well as the Hereafter.

Hudhur said he has been mentioning for a few years now that natural disasters around the world have increased in occurrence in the last 100 years. These are a proof of the Divine support of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) because the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said that natural disasters will occur as a sign of his support. The destruction created by these natural disasters in Pakistan, as in other parts of the world, is obvious. According to the president of the UN, the recent floods in Pakistan were worse than tsunamis. Each Ahmadi knows these disasters are a sign of support for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), if only the world would understand this too! These disasters cause us anxiety lest the world does not take heed and worse destruction follow. This makes us turn to God. The Pakistani news media is clamouring whether the recent floods are Divine chastisement or not. The religious leaders there say that Divine chastisement comes with the advent of Prophets of God. If only they listened to what the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said! His message has been alerting them for the past 100 years. Each disaster [since] makes us anxious lest it is a pre-cursor to the next greater disaster. We always extend all kind of help during these disasters. During the floods our Community sent cash donations via Pakistani embassies through out the world, both individually and communally. Resident Pakistanis also helped with cash donations as well as equipment. In addition, our volunteers helped out. At one instance our team came across Edhi sahib, who runs a big charitable foundation. He remarked, ‘Qadianis are always the first to arrive to help’. Our aid in Pakistan was extended irrespective of religion or sectarian divide. Humanity First has also provided aid and continues to do so. Humanity First now plans to spend a further 1 million dollars in rehabilitation work in the flood affected areas. We are carrying out this work irrespective of religion and silently, without disclosing that we are Ahmadis lest trouble is created and the disadvantaged are left deprived of help. As for the attitude of the so-called caretakers of Islam, in one area it was found out that some people who had fled a flood-affected area were Ahmadis. Let alone feed them, they were expelled from the building used as a flood shelter due to the fact that they were ‘Qadianis’. Hudhur said, with the grace of God, each flood-affected Ahmadi has been taken care of by the Community. Neither will the Community leave them helpless, nor will God. The flood-affected Pakistanis were taken care of but this incident exposed the ill-nature of those who call themselves Muslim.

The floods in Pakistan came after the incident of Lahore mosques where extreme cruelty was perpetrated. When the whole situation is seen with this perspective, the high character of the Community is demonstrated in an enhanced manner who extended help in spite of the cruelty meted out to them. Following the tragic events of the Lahore mosques and even before some funerals had taken place, some Ahmadi families were sent sweets to celebrate the martyrdom of their family members. This shows complete moral and religious ruin and failure of some people that the mullah has facilitated. Some Ahmadis children were told by neighbourhood children that they should be thrown in the gutter because that is where they belonged. As a result some Ahmadi families had to move house. During the flood relief work, our Community helped one and all, not taking any note of who had shown enmity at which point, thus the Ahmadi character was demonstrated with greater glory. This is the picture of true Islam which our Community is exhibiting, it is indeed in following the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and we shall continue with this to seek the pleasure of God.

Our persecution is not restricted to just Pakistan. Wherever persecution takes places our Community demonstrates high morals. Recently some Ahmadi homes, some cars and perhaps motor bikes were set on fire in Indonesia. But when help was needed there, the Community extended it. In Indonesia non-Ahmadis have the decency and courage to condemn those who burn down houses and mosques. The wife of the ex-president of Indonesia Abdul Wahid went to pay condolences to Ahmadi families. If only Pakistani leaders could also find similar insight.

Ahmadis will continue with their endeavours, no amount of oppression can take our morals away. Our prayers will be fulfilled one day and the oppressors and oppression will be wiped off the face of the earth. We should continue to pray that may God make every person and every country free of oppression. It is not our task to create disorder and fight for our rights. We are oppressed against due to religion and our Imam of the age has forbidden us to fight for the cause of religion. Prayer is our weapon and our triumph will come about with it. Our real objective is to seek God’s pleasure for which piety is practised but disorder is not utilised. As stated: ‘This is the Home of the Hereafter! We give it to those who desire not self-exaltation in the earth, nor corruption…’ (28:84). When we declare that we are among those who are included by God among those who believe in the Hereafter, how could we then take law in our hands and refuse to serve humanity? That is contrary to taqwa and taqwa alone is our objective, as stated: ‘…And the end is for the righteous’.

Adherents of all religions have always believed that any oppression perpetrated against them would end one day. When the duration of such trials lasts long, some consider taking up worldly means to address the matter. However, this is not the way of divine communities. Some people write to Hudhur that too much patience is not good. Hudhur said, firstly, we have accepted the Imam of the age and must now follow whatever he told us word by word. Secondly, the pious natured cannot adopt deceptive ways. Hudhur said people living around Rabwah refer to the Ahmadis [settlers post-1947] as migrants. These people were habitual thieves and in the early days Rabwah had to be made secure against them. One of these people once remarked that as far as their bad practices were concerned, the ultimate know-how of a wise Ahmadi in these matters was only the starting point of one of their foolish men. Thus, Hudhur said, we have no comparison with them as far as corruption/disorder is concerned. We trust in God for it is to Him that our final return is and in God’s Presence, taqwa rather than deceptive ways will be accounted for, as the Qur’an states: ‘…but it is your righteousness that reaches Him…’ (22:38). Taqwa alone will be a means of our forgiveness as God promises: ‘…And the end is for the righteous.’ This clearly means that the triumph of divine communities does not come about with deceptive ways, corruption, disorder and haughtiness. Rather those who demonstrate humility and wish for God’s pleasure under all circumstances are the people who will experience triumph. The rebellion and the disorder are but temporary. Many a Pharaoh-like tyrant came but was destroyed. A group that stands up against a divine community does so only because it is aware that its domination is about to end. The Pharaoh-like people idolise governance and power and thus present it to people, in fact are threatened that if the public follows godly ways their dominance over them will come to an end. They thus exceed limits in oppression and create impediments. During the time of one commissioned by God or during the time of his community prospering the jubbah-clad religionists imagine that their ‘pulpit’ (mimber) is in danger. They increase oppression, falsehood, deception, and they kill in the name of religion; all in order to save their pulpit. When such people, be they in governance or so-called masters of the pulpit, see their power dwindling, they disregard every law and every moral. Their concerted opposition is a sign of their fear that they are all but gone. Hudhur said some of our opponents in Pakistan admit that God’s ‘practical testimony’ is with the Ahmadis. Wherever in the world they are opposing us, their stance is that if our (Ahmadiyya) progress has any influence on the public, their power will be gone as well as their so-called Imamat. Hudhur said just as the wealth and power of previous people of their ilk could not save them, it shall not do so in the future.

Hudhur said today he would once again say that those who consider themselves safe from calamities and disasters are not safe. God states in the Qur’an: ‘Out of arrogance in the earth and evil plotting. But the evil plot encompasses none but the authors thereof. Do they then look for anything but God’s way of dealing with the peoples of old? But thou wilt never find any change in the way of Allah; nor wilt thou ever find any alteration in the way of Allah.’(35:44). Hudhur remarked can their arrogance succeed against one sent by God? Most certainly not. The accounts of early Prophets in the Qur’an are not simply tales, they are cautionary accounts and are there to instil fear of God and are a warning that one who is sent by God should not be contended with. The Quranic words ‘…thou wilt never find any change in the way of Allah; nor wilt thou ever find any alteration in the way of Allah.’ need to be reflected over by these people, if only they understood! May God enable us to pray and may He accept our prayers for the world that may it be saved from falling in the pit of destruction. We should continue to pray for ourselves that may we always pray with patience and resolve and become true evidence of ‘…And the end is for the righteous…’ and experience triumph.

Hudhur read an extract from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and prayed that may God continue to strengthen our belief and may He open the eyes of the world.